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Art gum use to be the article of choice for cleaning up covers and stamps that had become slightly soiled with handling. There are now two really superior erasing products available for cleaning up stamps and covers.
For stamps, these new white plastic eraser are a big improvement over art gum. My favorite is a product by pentel called the “Clic Eraser,” item #ZE-21. The quality of some of the plastic erasers is not as good as others, but the Pentel product is really great for removing errant pencil marks from the front of stamps. It is also quite efficient at removing pencil notations from the back of stamps that some colectors just can’t help adding. It will also remove a lot of the color transfers found on stamps from albums that have sided pages. With time, the color from some stamps will transfer to the stamps on the opposite page. These erasers will remove a lot of the transferred color. Remember to rub gently with the eraser in one direction only from the center of the stamp to the outside. Practice on cheap stamps first.
Many cover dealers seem to have deficient memories, which is the only reason I can see for all the notations they put all over the covers they sell. >From my point of view, this commercial scribbling detracts from the cover and its value. These erasers are very nice for removing a lot of this “professional” defacement.
Another neat product available in drafting supply stores is the “Dry Cleaning Pad” made by Alvin & Co of Windsor CT. This is great for cleaning covers and other paper documents. You place the cover in a low-sided box (you will see why). You then squeeze and twist the pad to release some of the cleaning particles onto the cover. Then gently rub the cover in one direction from the center outward with the pad. The little particles are like little individual erasers, and you will be amazed at the amount of dirt that can be removed from some covers. Again, practice on cheap covers before you move to better ones. This way you will get a feel for what can be removed and what can’t. These pads cost under $4. Thanks to Janet Klug of the Clermont County Stamp club for putting me on to these pads.
I use scissors to cut mounts. The result is not always pleasing to my eye; but the purpose of mounts, as far as I am concerned is to protect the stamp. It doesn’t matter to me that the mounts may be cut crooked. For those of you who worry about white space and that there might be too much text on your exhibit page or for those who just like things to be pleasing to the eye, there are mount cutters.
These are sold by most supply dealers. The going rate for a small one is about $14 and around $26 for a large one plus shipping and handling (read extra profit). I have one of the small ones. It works OK for the smaller mounts; but it won’t do for the larger mounts for souvenir sheets. Its biggest advantage is that it is small and light weight.
There is, however, an alternative. If you have one of the office supply super stores near you, you might just bop over and get yourself one of their small paper cutters. For the price of a small mount cutter, you can get one of these heavy-duty cutters with which you can not only cut mounts, large and small, but you can even cut cardboard to use as envelope stiffeners. One bit of safety advice with regard to paper cutters: Never remove the finger guard that always seems to be in the way. It is! You can take the end of your finger off with one of these things, so pay attention when using one.
Thanks to Janet klug of the Clermont County Stamp Club for the idea for the small paper cutters
Ken Stewart